Dubbing apparatus for dubbing data

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a dubbing device for dubbing data from a portable first recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which dubbing to the second recording medium with a large capacity is automatically carried out when reproducing data from the first recording medium. When data is reproduced from the first recording medium, database means is searched on the basis of identification information for the first recording medium and execution control of dubbing is performed in accordance with the result of search for recording history information. For example, whether or not data to be reproduced from the first recording medium has been already recorded on the second recording medium is discriminated, and dubbing is carried out if the data to be reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a dubbing device for dubbing data froma first portable recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digitalaudio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] As equipments which support recording media having audio datarecorded thereon, CD players, and MD (Mini Disc) recorder/players usinga magneto-optical disc with a diameter of 64 mm as a recording mediumhave been popularized.

[0003] For dubbing of audio data or the like on the user side, forexample, an operation to dub a tune recorded on a CD is carried out.

[0004] The dubbing function in a conventional audio equipment isperformed as a user intentionally carries out the operation to recorddata of a CD to another medium. That is, the user selects a CD or a tunerecorded on a CD to be dubbed to an MD or the like, selects an MD to beused for recording, loads the selected CD and MD, and carries out thedubbing operation. The dubbing desired by the user is thus performed.

[0005] On the other hand, dubbing is not performed unless the usercarries out any operation for dubbing. For example, if the deviceautomatically dubs music to an MD loaded thereon when reproducing musicfrom a CD, it is inconvenient for the user. That is, dubbing an unwantedtune and hence consuming the recording capacity of the MD without theuser's knowing must be avoided.

[0006] However, as recording media used in audio systems are diversifiedand their recording capacities are increased, a new operation for thedubbing function is required. For example, if a recording medium on thedubbing destination side has a very large recording capacity, automaticdubbing by the device without user's operation will not be inconvenientfor the user.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the foregoing status of the art, it is an object ofthe present invention to realize automatic dubbing without requiring anyoperation by the user in a dubbing device for dubbing data from a firstportable recording medium such as a CD-DA to a second recording mediumhaving a very large capacity such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and thusimprove the usability for the user.

[0008] A dubbing device according to the present invention comprises:reproducing means for carrying out reproduction from a portable firstrecording medium; recording/reproducing means for carrying out recordingto and reproduction from a second recording medium having a largercapacity than the first recording medium; database means for managingidentification information and recording history information to thesecond recording medium, with respect to the first recording medium fromwhich reproduction is carried out by the reproducing means; and controlmeans for performing control to search the database means on the basisof the identification information for the first recording medium whenreproduction from the first recording medium is carried out by thereproducing means, and to cause the recording/reproducing means torecord data reproduced from the first recording medium to the secondrecording medium in accordance with the result of the search forrecording history information.

[0009] The control means performs control to discriminate whether or notthe data reproduced from the first recording medium has already beenrecorded on the second recording medium on the basis of the recordinghistory information, and to cause the reproduced data to be recorded tothe second recording medium if the reproduced data has not been recordedon the second recording medium.

[0010] One or a plurality of programs (tracks of tunes or the like) andmanagement information for managing the programs are recorded on thefirst recording medium, and the identification information is generatedon the basis of the management information.

[0011] One or a plurality of programs and management information ofmanaging the programs are recorded on the first recording medium, andthe recording history information indicates the presence/absence ofrecording of each program to the second recording medium.

[0012] In this case, the control means performs control to discriminatewhether or not each program reproduced from the first recording mediumhas already been recorded on the second recording medium on the basis ofthe recording history information, and to cause a program which has notbeen recorded on the second recording medium to be recorded to thesecond recording medium.

[0013] If a whole program is recorded to the second recording medium,the content of the recording history information is updated to assumethat the program has been recorded.

[0014] The reproducing means can change its reproducing status from anormal reproducing status to a special reproducing status at the time ofdata reproduction, and when the reproduction by the reproducing means ischanged to the special reproducing status, the control means stops therecording operation which is being carried out by therecording/reproducing means.

[0015] Particularly, in the case where the reproducing means can changeits reproducing status from the normal reproducing status to the specialreproducing status, when the reproduction of a program by thereproducing means is changed to the special reproducing status, thecontrol means stops the recording operation of the program which isbeing carried out by the recording/reproducing means and erases data ofthe program which was recorded before the stop of the recordingoperation.

[0016] Moreover, additional information associated with the firstrecording medium is recorded in the database.

[0017] In the dubbing device according to the present invention, whenreproduction from the first recording medium is carried out, the programrecorded on the first recording medium is automatically dubbed to thesecond recording medium.

[0018] By preventing a program which is recorded on the first recordingmedium and dubbed once from being dubbed again to the second recordingmedium, an unnecessary dubbing operation and unnecessary consumption ofthe capacity of the second recording medium are eliminated.

[0019] Furthermore, if the special reproducing status, for example, FF(fast-forward), REW (rewind), or AMS (automatic music sensor), iscarried out when reproducing a program (tune or the like) from the firstrecording medium and the status of the reproduced data is changed todisturb dubbing of the complete data, the dubbing is stopped and theincomplete data which has been dubbed halfway is erased, therebypreventing the incomplete data from remaining as the dubbed data.

[0020] Thus, automatic dubbing is carried out without causing anyinconvenience to the user and the dubbed data is made available to theuser, thus improving the usability.

[0021] The other objects of the present invention and specificadvantages provided by the present invention will be clarified furtherfrom the following description of an embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a dubbing device according tothe present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a CD reproducing unitconstituting the dubbing device according to the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an HD recording/reproducing unitconstituting the dubbing device according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an audio input/output unitconstituting the dubbing device according to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a frame structure of the CDformat.

[0027]FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a subcoding frame ofthe CD format.

[0028]FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing sub-Q data of the CDformat.

[0029]FIG. 8 illustrates a TOC structure of the CD format.

[0030]FIG. 9 shows a database structure of the dubbing device accordingto the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing by a systemcontroller.

[0032]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing by a CD controller.

[0033]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing by the CDcontroller.

[0034]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing by an HD controller.

[0035]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing by the HDcontroller.

[0036]FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing by the HDcontroller.

[0037]FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the operation at the timeof an all-track recording mode.

[0038]FIG. 17 shows the operation in the case where a stop operation ismade at the time of the all-track recording mode.

[0039]FIG. 18 shows the operation in the case where an FF operation ismade at the time of the all-track recording mode.

[0040]FIG. 19 shows the operation at the time of a partial trackrecording mode.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0041] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in which the presentinvention is applied to a dubbing device for automatically dubbing to anHDD a program to be reproduced from a CD, that is, music data, which isalso called track. The description is made in the following order.

[0042] (1) Structure of Dubbing Device

[0043] (2) Structure of CD Reproducing Unit

[0044] (3) Structure of HD Recording/Reproducing Unit

[0045] (4) Structure of Audio Input/Output Unit

[0046] (5) Subcode and TOC of CD

[0047] (6) Database

[0048] (7) Processing by System Controller

[0049] (8) Processing by CD Controller

[0050] (9) Processing by HD Controller

[0051] (10) Exemplary Dubbing Operation

[0052] (11) Other Examples

[0053] (1) Structure of Dubbing Device

[0054] A dubbing device according to the present invention has a systemcontroller 1, a CD reproducing unit 2, an HD recording/reproducing unit3, an audio input/output unit 4, a operating unit 5, and a display unit6, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] The system controller 1, the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 can communicate various control signals CSto one another. For example, the system controller 1 transmits controlsignals CS to the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 and thus causes the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 to carry out required operations.

[0056] The CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3send to the system controller 1 answer signals for the control signals,information such as the operating status, subcode and TOC, which will bedescribed later, and other necessary information.

[0057] The system controller 1 is made up of a microcomputer andcontrols the operation of the whole device by sending the controlsignals CS. The system controller 1 is provided with an input from theoperating unit 5. A power key, an ejection key, a reproduction key, apause key, a stop key, a tune selection key, a recording key and thelike are prepared on the operating unit 5 and a user carries outarbitrary operations. In accordance with the operation by the operatingunit 5, the system controller 1 instructs the CD reproducing unit 2 andthe HD reproducing unit 3 to carry out required operations, by thecontrol signals CS. Moreover, the system controller 1 causes executionof an operation for the user to designate a track number on a CD andinstruct reproduction starting with an arbitrary tune, that is, aso-called programmed reproduction for the user to designate the order ofreproducing tunes, and an operation called shuffled reproduction toreproduce tunes in a random order.

[0058] In order to input additional information, which will be describedlater, an operator which enables input of characters may be prepared onthe system controller 1.

[0059] The display unit 6 is connected to the system controller 1, andthe system controller 1 supplies display data to the display unit 6 soas to carry out necessary display. On the display unit 6, for example,time information such as the total play time, the lapse of time of atune which is being played, the remaining play time of a tune which isbeing reproduced and the remaining play time of the whole CD, and thetrack number of a tune which is being played are displayed asinformation related to the CD loaded in the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0060] In the case of a disc on which its disc name and track names(tune names) are recorded, the disc name and track names are displayedon the display unit 6.

[0061] The CD reproducing unit 2 is a part for loading a CD-DA thereon,which is equivalent to a first recording medium, and reproducing datafrom the CD-DA. As will be later described in detail, audio data S1 (PCMdigital audio data) reproduced from the CD is supplied to the audioinput/output unit 4 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3.

[0062] The CD reproducing unit 2 is a part which can reproduce musicdata from a disc of the CD format. While the CD reproducing unit 2supports a CD-DA in this description, it can similarly reproduce musicdata recorded on other types of discs of the CD format such as CD-R andCD-RW. As one type of CD-DA, there is a disc called CD text on whichtext data is recorded in a subcode. In this case, the text data isreproduced from the subcode along with the reproduction of music data.

[0063] Although a CD is used as the first recording medium in thisembodiment, the first recording medium may be another type of mediumsuch as an MD, memory card, or DAT (digital audio tape). In such a case,an MD reproducing unit, a memory card reproducing nuit, a DATreproducing unit or the like may be provided instead of or in additionto the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0064] The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is a part having an HDD as asecond recording medium with a large capacity and adapted forrecording/reproducing data to/from the HDD. The HDD as the secondrecording medium has a very large capacity of, for example, several tensGB, compared with the CD as the first recording medium.

[0065] The structure of the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 will bedescribed later. Audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 and audiodata S2 (PCM digital audio data) from the audio input/output unit 4 areinputted to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 records the audio data S1, S2 to the HDD.The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 also outputs audio data S3reproduced from the HDD to the audio input/output unit 4.

[0066] The audio input/output unit 4 is a part for inputting/outputtingaudio data. The audio input/output unit 4 outputs audio data reproducedfrom the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3to a speaker system or other equipments and inputs audio data (digitalaudio data or analog audio signals) supplied from other equipments. Thesystem controller 1 controls the input/output path of the audioinput/output unit 4 by a switch control signal CSW. The details will bedescribed later.

[0067] (2) Structure of CD Reproducing Unit

[0068] The CD reproducing unit 2 has a structure as shown in FIG. 2. Adisc 90 is a CD loaded on the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0069] In the CD reproducing operation, the disc 90 is rotationallydriven at a constant linear velocity (CLV) by a spindle motor 22. Then,data recorded on the disc 90 in the form of pits is read out by anoptical head 23 and supplied to an RF amplifier 25.

[0070] To read out data from the disc 90, a laser diode as a laser lightsource, a photodetector for detecting reflected light, an objective lensas an output end of a laser beam, and an optical system for casting thelaser beam to a disc recording surface via the objective lens andleading its reflected light to the photodetector are provided in theoptical head 23, though not shown.

[0071] The objective lens is held to be movable in a tracking directionand a focusing direction by a biaxial driving mechanism.

[0072] The optical head 23 as a whole is made movable in a radialdirection of the disc by a thread mechanism 24.

[0073] The RF amplifier 25 generates a focusing error signal and atracking error signal in addition to a reproduced RF signal.

[0074] These error signals are supplied to a servo circuit 27. The servocircuit 27 generates a focusing driving signal, a tracking drivingsignal and a thread driving signal from the focusing error signal andthe tracking error signal, and controls the operation of the biaxialdriving mechanism in the optical head 23 and the thread mechanism 24.

[0075] The servo circuit 27 generates the thread driving signal inaccordance with a low-frequency component of the tracking error signaland an access designation signal from a CD controller 21 and controlsthe operation of the thread mechanism 24 to move the optical head 23.The servo circuit 27 generates a spindle driving signal on the basis ofa spindle error signal and a spindle kick/brake signal supplied from adecoder 26 or the CD controller 21, and controls the operation of thespindle motor 22.

[0076] The reproduced RF signal outputted from the RF amplifier 25 issupplied to the decoder 26. The decoder 26 performs CIRC decoding or thelike to decode the information read out from the disc 90 to digitalaudio data S1 of 16-bit quantization and 44.1-kHz sampling. This digitalaudio data S1 is supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 and theaudio input/output unit 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0077] The decoder 26 also extracts control data such as TOC and asubcode, which are supplied to the CD controller 21 and used for variouscontrol. The CD controller 21 is constituted by a microcomputer forcontrolling the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0078] In reproducing the disc 90 (CD), management information recordedon the CD, that is, the TOC, must be read out. The CD controller 21discriminates the number of tracks recorded on the disc 90 and theaddress of each track in accordance with the management information andcontrols the reproducing operation. Therefore, when the disc 90 isloaded, the CD controller 21 reads out the TOC by carrying out thereproducing operation on the innermost side of the disc where the TOC isrecorded, then stores the TOC in, for example, an internal RAM, andrefers to the TOC in the subsequent reproducing operation of the disc90.

[0079] If the disc 90 is a CD text, text data is recorded in a subcodewhich forms TOC data. The CD controller 21 reads this text data whenreading the TOC and stores the text data into the internal RAM. There isa mode such that the text data is recorded in a subcode of a programarea, instead of a so-called TOC area. In such a case, the text data istaken in together with subcode data extracted in accordance with theprogress in reproduction of the program (tracks).

[0080] The CD controller 21 communicates various control signals CSto/from the system controller 1 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3(HD controller 31 within the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, which willbe described later), as shown in FIG. 1.

[0081] For example, when an operation such as reproduction of the CD, FF(fast-forward), REW (rewind), AMS (automatic music sensor), pause orstop is carried out by the operating unit 5, the system controller 1sends such operation information to the CD controller 21. In accordancewith the operation information, the CD controller 21 controls each partof the CD reproducing unit 2 so that an operation intended by the useris executed.

[0082] The CD controller 21 sends the operating status of the CDreproducing unit 2, the TOC information and text information read fromthe disc 90, and the time information (address) and the like during thereproduction of the CD, to the system controller 1.

[0083] Having received such information transmitted from the CDcontroller 21, the system controller 1 grasps the operating status ofthe CD reproducing unit 2 and can cause the display unit 6 to performvarious displays as described above on the basis of the TOC and subcodeinformation.

[0084] The CD controller 21 sends and receives various information toand from the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 in the dubbing operation, aspecific example of which will be described later.

[0085] (3) Structure of HD Recording/Reproducing Unit

[0086] The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is constituted as shown inFIG. 3. The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 has an HDD (hard disk drive)32 as the second recording medium with a large capacity. An HDcontroller 31 is a controller for controlling the operation of the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3. Inside the HD controller 31, a mechanismcalled file system for realizing access, reading and writing to the HDD32 is provided. For example, it is a FAT32 file system.

[0087] The HD controller 31 communicates various control signals CSto/from the system controller 1 and the CD reproducing unit 2 (CDcontroller 21), as shown in FIG. 1. For example, in the automaticdubbing operation at the time of reproduction by the CD reproducing unit2, as will be described later, the system controller 1 gives a dubbinginstruction and other instructions to the HD controller 31.

[0088] To the CD controller 21, the TOC information and text informationread from the disc 90 for reproduction are sent. The TOC information andthe like are used for generation of and search for the identificationinformation of the disc in a database, which will be described later.

[0089] The HD controller 31 sends the operating status and informationrelated to the dubbing operation to the system controller 1 and the CDcontroller 21.

[0090] Under the control of the HD controller 31, data is written to andread out from the HDD 32. Particularly, the digital audio data S1reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2 and the digital audio data S2supplied from the audio input/output unit 4 are processed in apredetermined manner and then recorded to the HDD 32. The recorded datais managed by the FAT32 file system. The recorded data is reads out bythe HD controller 31, supplied to the audio input/output unit 4 and thenoutputted.

[0091] For example, in the case where the user carried out an operationto designate and reproduce a tune or the like recorded on the HDD 32 byusing the operating unit 5, the system controller 1 sends the operationinformation to the HD controller 31. Then, the HD controller 31 causesthe data of the designated tune or the like to be reproduced from theHDD 32 and supplies the data to the audio input/output unit 4 as audiodata S3.

[0092] As will be described later, a database is constructed on the HDD32 which has data corresponding to each CD in order to determine whetheror not the HD controller 31 carries out the automatic dubbing operationin reproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0093] The HD controller 31 can refer to and update the database storedon the HDD 32, when necessary.

[0094] An audio compression-encoding/decoding circuit 33 and a buffermemory 34 are parts for processing recorded data and reproduced data onthe HDD 32.

[0095] The digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 or thedigital audio data S2 from the audio input/output unit 4 is inputted tothe HD recording/reproducing unit 3. When the digital audio data S1, S2is inputted, data compression processing is performed by the audiocompression-encoding/decoding circuit 33. For example, compressionprocessing of the ATRAC3 system is carried out. The compressed digitalaudio data is stored into the buffer memory 34 and recorded to the HDD32 under the control of the HD controller 31.

[0096] In reproduction from the HDD 32, data read out from the HDD 32 bythe HF controller 31 is stored into the buffer memory 34. The datastored in the buffer memory 34 is read out from the buffer memory 34 ata predetermined rate and data expansion processing is performed thereonby the audio compression-encoding/decoding circuit 33. Thus, thecompression processing of the ATRAC3 system is canceled and theresultant data is outputted to the audio input/output unit 4 as thenormal digital audio data S3.

[0097] The compression system is not limited to ATRAC3 and may be othercompression systems such as MPEG audio. Alternatively, the data may berecorded to the HDD 32 without being compressed.

[0098] Moreover, the data recorded to the HDD 32 may be encrypted, andin reproduction, the data may be decrypted.

[0099] (4) Structure of Audio Input/Output Unit

[0100] The audio input/output unit 4 has an analog audio signal outputterminal 41, an analog audio signal input terminal 42, a digital audiodata output terminal 43, a digital audio data input terminal 44, D/Aconverters 45, 46, an A/D converter 47, a digital interface 48, andswitches 49, 50, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0101] The digital audio data S1 reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2and the digital audio data S3 reproduced by the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 are supplied to the audio input/output unit 4.

[0102] While the reproducing operation is being carried out by the CDreproducing unit 2, the system controller 1 connects the switch 49 to atc terminal by a switch control signal CSW.

[0103] Therefore, the digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit2 is converted to an analog audio signal by the D/A converter 45, thensupplied to the output terminal 41 via the switch 49, and outputted asthe analog audio signal.

[0104] While the reproducing operation is being carried out by the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3, the system controller 1 connects theswitch 49 to a th terminal by a switch control signal CSW.

[0105] Therefore, the digital audio data S3 from the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 is converted to an analog audio signal bythe D/A converter 46, supplied to the output terminal 41 via the switch49, and outputted as the analog audio signal.

[0106] The analog audio signal from the output terminal 41 is amplifiedby a power amplifier and then outputted from a speaker or supplied toanother equipment as a line output.

[0107] The digital audio data S1 reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2and the digital audio data S3 reproduced by the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 are also supplied to the digital interface 48. The digitalinterface 48 encodes the digital audio data S1 or S3 supplied thereto toa transmission data form as a digital interface format and outputs theencoded data from the output terminal 43. That is, the reproduced audiodata can be transmitted in the digital audio data form to anotherequipment.

[0108] The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 can record to the HDD 32 notonly the digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 but alsothe digital audio data S2 supplied from the audio input/output unit 4.Therefore, the audio input/output unit 4 outputs the digital audio dataS2 in the following manner.

[0109] First, in the case where an analog audio signal from an externalequipment is inputted to the input terminal 42, the analog audio signalis converted by the A/D converter 47 to digital audio data having asampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and the number of quantization bits of16. In this case, the system controller 1 connects the switch 50 to a taterminal by a switch control signal CSW. Therefore, the output of theA/D converter 47 is supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 asthe digital audio data S2.

[0110] In the case where digital audio data from an external equipmentis inputted to the input terminal 44, the inputted data is decoded bythe digital interface 48. In this case, the system controller 1 connectsthe switch 50 to a td terminal by a switch control signal CSW.Therefore, the output decoded by the digital interface is supplied tothe HD recording/reproducing unit 3 as the digital audio data S2.

[0111] Moreover, the digital audio data S2 reproduced by the CDreproducing unit 2 can be supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit3 as the digital audio data S2 via the digital interface 48.

[0112] (5) Subcode and TOC of CD

[0113] A subcode recorded together with main data on a disc of the CDformat, and TOC recorded in a lead-in area will now be described.

[0114] The minimum unit of data recorded on a disc of the CD format isone frame. 98 frames constitute one block.

[0115] One frame has a structure as shown in FIG. 5.

[0116] One frame is made up of 588 bits. The leading 24 bits constitutesynchronous data and the subsequent 14 bits constitute a subcode area,followed by data and parities.

[0117] 98 frames, each having this structure, constitute one block, andsubcode data taken out from the 98 frames are collected to form subcodedata (subcoding frame) of the one block, as shown in FIG. 6A. Thesubcode data from the leading first and second frames (frame 98 n+1,frame 98 n+2) of the 98 frames are synchronous patterns. The frames fromthe third frame to the 98^(th) frame (frame 98 n+3 to frame 98 n+98)constitute channel data of 96 bits each, that is, subcode data of P, Q,R, S, T, U and V. Of these, the P-channel and the Q-channel are used formanagement of access and the like. However, the P-channel only indicatesa pause portion between tracks and detailed control is performed by theQ-channel (Q1 to Q96). The Q-channel data of 96 bits is constituted asshown in FIG. 6B. First, the four bits of Q1 to Q4 form control data,which is used for the number of audio channels, emphasis, CD-ROM, andthe identification as to whether digital copying is possible or not. Thenext four bits of Q5 to Q8 form ADR, which indicates the mode of sub-Qdata. Specifically, the four bits of ADR express the mode (content ofsub-Q data) as follows. 0000: mode 0 Sub-Q data is basically all-zero(though it is used in CD- RW) 0001: mode 1 Normal mode 0010: mode 2Indicates the catalog number of the disc 0011: mode 3 Indicates ISRC(International Standard Recording Code) or the like 0100: mode 4 Used inCD-V 0101: mode 5 Used in a multi-session system such as CD-R, CD-RW orCD-EXTRA

[0118] The 72 bits of Q9 to Q80 following the ADR form sub-Q data, andthe remaining bits of Q81 to Q96 form CRC.

[0119] The address is expressed by the sub-Q data in the case where themode 1 is indicated by the ADR.

[0120] The sub-Q data and the TOC structure in the case of ADR=mode 1will be described with reference to FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 8

[0121] The sub-Q data recorded in the lead-in area of the disc forms TOCinformation. That is, the sub-Q data of 72 bits Q9 to Q80 in theQ-channel data read from the lead-in area has information as shown inFIG. 7A. This FIG. 7A shows the details of the 72-bit sub-Q data portionin the structure of FIG. 6B in the lead-in area. The sub-Q data has dataof eight bits each and expresses the TOC information.

[0122] First, the track number (TNO) is recorded in the eight bits of Q9to Q16. In the lead-in area, the track number is fixed to “00”.Subsequently, POINT (point) is described in the eight bits of Q17 toQ24.

[0123] Eight-bit sets of Q25 to Q32, Q33 to Q40, and Q41 to Q48 expressMIN (minute), SEC (second), and FRAME (frame), respectively, as thelapse of time in the lead-in area.

[0124] Q49 to Q56 are set to “00000000”.

[0125] Moreover, eight-bit sets of Q57 to Q64, Q65 to Q72, and Q73 toQ80 record PMIN, PSEC, and PFRAME, respectively. The meanings of thesePMIN, PSEC and PFRAME are determined depending on the value of POINT.

[0126] When POINT has values of “01” to “99”, the value of POINTindicates the track number. In PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME in this case, thestart point (absolute time address) of the track having this tracknumber is recorded as minute (PMIN), second (PSEC) and frame (PFRAME),respectively.

[0127] When POINT has a value of “A0”, the track number of the firsttrack is recorded in PMIN. The specifications of CD-DA (digital audio),CD-I, CD-ROM (XA-specific) and the like are discriminated depending onthe value of PSEC.

[0128] When POINT has a value of “A1”, the track number of the lasttrack is recorded in PMIN.

[0129] When POINT has a value of “A2”, the start point of the lead-outarea is expressed as the absolute time address (minute (PMIN), second(PSEC) and frame (PFRAME) in PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME, respectively.

[0130] For example, for a disc on which six tracks (six programs or sixtunes) are recorded, data is recorded as shown in FIG. 8 as the TOCformed by such sub-Q data.

[0131] To form the TOC, all the track numbers TNO are “00”, as shown inFIG. 8.

[0132] Block NO. Indicates the number of one unit of sub-Q data read asblock data (subcoding frame) made up of 98 frames as described above.

[0133] The same content is written over three blocks each, as therespective TOC data.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 8, when POINT has values of “01” to “06”, thestart points of the first track #1 to the sixth track #6 are expressedin PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME.

[0135] When POINT has a value of “A0”, “01” is expressed in PMIN as thefirst track number. The disc is identified in accordance with the valueof PSEC, which is “00” in the case of an ordinary audio CD. If the discis CD-ROM (XA-specific), PSEC has a value of “20”.

[0136] When POINT has a value of “A1”, the track number of the lasttrack is recorded in PMIN. When POINT has a value of “A2”, the startpoint of the lead-out area is expressed in PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME.

[0137] With respect to the block n+27 and the subsequent blocks, thecontents of the blocks n to n+26 are repeatedly recorded.

[0138] In the program area and the lead-out area where tunes arerecorded as the track #1 to the track #n, the sub-Q data recordedtherein has information as shown in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7B shows the detailsof the 72-bit sub-Q data portion in the structure of FIG. 6B in theprogram area and the lead-out area.

[0139] In this case, first, the track number (TNO) is recorded in theeight bits of Q9 to Q16. That is, one of “01” to “99” is used as each ofthe tracks #1 to #n. In the lead-out area, the track number is “AA”.Then, an index is recorded in the eight bits of Q17 to Q24. The index isthe information which enables subdivision of each track.

[0140] Eight-bit sets of Q25 to Q32, Q33 to Q40, and Q41 to Q48 expressMIN (minute), SEC (second), and FRAME (frame), respectively, as thelapse of time (relative address) in the track.

[0141] Q49 to Q56 are set to “00000000”.

[0142] Eight-bit sets of Q57 to Q64, Q65 to Q72, and Q73 to Q80 recordAMIN, ASEC, and AFRAME, respectively. These are the minute (AMIN),second (ASEC) and frame (AFRAME) as the absolute address.

[0143] The absolute address is an address continuously appended from theleading end of the first track (i.e., the leading end of the programarea) to the lead-out area.

[0144] The subcode and the TOC formed by the subcode are basicallyconstituted as described above. The subcode may further include variousinformation.

[0145] For example, in the case of a CD text, text information is storedby using R to W of the above-described subcode data of P, Q, S, T, U, Vand W.

[0146] (6) Database

[0147] The database used in the automatic dubbing operation of thepresent invention will now be described.

[0148] In the present invention, as data is reproduced from the disc 90by the CD reproducing unit 2, the reproduced data is automaticallydubbed to the HDD 32 by the HD recording/reproducing unit 3.

[0149] However, the operation to constantly dub reproduced data is oftenunnecessary. For example, it is not preferred that the same data isdubbed again when the user reproduces the same CD or the same tune manytimes.

[0150] Thus, in the present invention, a database is constructed in theHDD 32 in order discriminate whether or not dubbing has already beencarried out with respect to the disc 90 from which data is to bereproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0151] This database can identify respective CDs having various titlesand can also perform management with respect to whether each trackrecorded on each CD has already been dubbed or not.

[0152] That is, data of one file constituting the database correspondsto one CD and the file contains as least identification information ofthe CD and recording history information indicating whether each trackrecorded on the CD has already been dubbed or not.

[0153]FIG. 9 shows an exemplary file constituting the database, that is,a database file formed to correspond to a certain CD.

[0154] In this database file, identification information DID indicatinga specific CD and a recording flag indicating whether or not each trackhas already been dubbed are recorded. Moreover, track additionalinformation added to each track and disc additional information added toeach disc are stored.

[0155] The identification information DID is generated on the basis ofthe TOC data of the disc 90 (CD). For example, it is now assumed thatthe CD having six tracks shown in FIG. 8 is loaded in the CD reproducinguni 2. In this case, the CD reproducing unit 2 first reads out the TOCdata of the disc 90 and the TOC data is also transmitted to the HDcontroller 31. The HD controller 31 forms the identification informationshown in FIG. 9 by using the TOC data transmitted thereto. Theidentification information DID shown in FIG. 9 uses the track number ofeach recorded track and the value of the address of its start point(PMIN, PSEC, PFRAME), as can be seen from the comparison with FIG. 8.

[0156] All the values of the TOC data, in which the number of trackscontained in the CD and the absolute time (start point) to start a trackare written in the form of minute, second and frame, can hardly be thesame in different CDs. Therefore, these TOC data can be theidentification information of CDs having specific titles. In thisexample, this characteristic is utilized to generate the identificationinformation DID of each file in the database.

[0157] As in the database file shown in FIG. 9, a recording flagcorresponding to each track is provided. At the time of generating thedatabase file, all the recording flags are off (=0). For each track, therecording flag is turned on (=1) every time dubbing to the HDD 32 iscompleted.

[0158] In the example of FIG. 9, it is shown that the tracks 2, 3 and 6have already been dubbed to the HDD 32.

[0159] As will be described later, the recording flag is turned on (=1)when the track (tune or the like) could be completely dubbed to the HDD32. For example, if the tune could be dubbed only halfway, or iffast-forward was made on the reproducing side at a halfway point of thetune and hence the original reproduced data could not be dubbed, therecording flag is not turned on. That is, it is then considered that thetune has not been dubbed.

[0160] When there is additional information for a certain CD, or whenadditional information is inputted by the user or received and inputtedby some communication means, the additional information is stored intothe database file.

[0161] The additional information is, for example, text data, imagedata, management data and the like. The text data includes the name ofthe tune, the name of the artist, the lyrics, the names of partiesconcerned such as the name of the songwriter/composer, the name of theproduction company and the like. The image data includes an image of thealbum cover, an image of the artist, an impression image and the like.The management data may include, for example, copyright managementinformation such as ISRC and the like.

[0162] For example, the disc 90 from which data is to be reproduced is aCD text, the text data read out from the subcode can be stored into thedatabase file in association with the track or disc.

[0163] Of course, when the user arbitrarily inputs the name of the tuneor the like, it can be stored as additional information.

[0164] The additional information can also be used as the identificationinformation DID.

[0165] When a certain CD is reproduced for the first time by the CDreproducing unit 2, such a database file is generated corresponding tothe CD and is registered to the database.

[0166] When a CD for which the database file has already been generatedis reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2, the HD controller 31generates the identification information DID from the TOC datatransferred thereto from the CD reproducing unit 2 and searches thedatabase on the basis of the identification information DID and thus canconfirm the existence of the database file corresponding to the CD. Insuch a case, it is discriminated from the recording flag whether eachtrack of the CD has already been recorded or not.

[0167] (7) Processing by System Controller

[0168] The operation related to the automatic dubbing operation in thedubbing device according to the present invention will now be described.

[0169] In the following description, the processing by the systemcontroller 1, the processing by the CD controller 21 and the processingby the HD controller 31 with respect to the dubbing operation will befirst described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15. After that, the flowof specific operations will be described as exemplary operations withreference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

[0170] First, the processing by the system controller 1 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10.

[0171] At step F101, the system controller 1 monitors execution of anoperation at the operating unit for a user to designate reproduction ofa CD.

[0172] When the operation to designate reproduction is carried out, thesystem controller 1 at step F102 sends operation information of the userto the CD reproducing unit 2 (CD controller 21) and gives an instructionto transfer TOC information of the disc 90 currently loaded in the CDreproducing unit 2 to the HD controller 31.

[0173] If the user simply carried out the operation to designatereproduction of the CD, the operation information is the reproducingoperation information. In that case, the CD reproducing unit 2 startsreproduction at the first track of the disc 90. However, if the usercarried out the reproducing operation with a designated track number,also the track number is sent as the reproducing operation information.In that case, the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproducing the track ofthe designated track number.

[0174] If the user carried out a so-called programmed reproductionoperation to designate the order of tunes, also the information of thedesignated order of tunes is sent as the reproducing operationinformation.

[0175] If the user designated so-called shuffled reproduction toreproduce in a random order, information to the effect that it is theshuffled reproduction operation is sent as the reproducing operationinformation.

[0176] As will be described later, as the system controller 1 at stepF102 instructs the CD controller 21 to transfer the TOC information tothe HD controller 31, the CD controller 21 transfers the TOC informationand the HD controller 31 carries out database search and setting ofrecording mode on the basis of the TOC information transferred thereto.The HD controller 31 sends the result as a response to the systemcontroller 1.

[0177] The system controller 1 at step F103 waits for the response fromthe HD controller 31, and on receiving the response, the systemcontroller 1 at step F104 discriminates whether or not an all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31.

[0178] The recording modes set in the HD controller 31 include theall-track recording mode, a partial track recording mode, and anon-recording mode.

[0179] The all-track recording mode is a mode in which automatic dubbingis carried out for all the tracks of a CD to be reproduced.

[0180] The partial track recording mode is a mode in which automaticdubbing is carried out for a part of the tracks of a CD to bereproduced.

[0181] The non-recording mode is a mode in which dubbing is not carriedout because dubbing has already been carried out for all the tracks of aCD to be reproduced.

[0182] As will be described later, the HD controller 31 sets one ofthese modes on the basis of the result of the database search.

[0183] If all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, thesystem controller 1 at step F105 instructs the HD controller 31 to startrecording, and at step F106, instructs the CD controller 21 to startreproduction. The CD controller 21 is also notified of the modeinformation set in the HD controller 31.

[0184] On the other hand, if the partial track recording mode or thenon-recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, the processing ofstep F105 is not carried out and the system controller 1 at step F106instructs the CD controller 21 to start reproduction and notifies the CDcontroller 21 of the recording mode.

[0185] The CD reproducing unit 2 starts the reproducing operation of thedisc 90 in response to the reproduction start instruction of step F106.During this time, the system controller 1 monitors the user operationand the reproducing status by using a loop of steps F107, F108 and F109.

[0186] If the user carried out an operation such as FF, REW, AMS orPAUSE using the operating unit 5, the system controller 1 goes from stepF109 to step F110 and notifies the CD controller 21 and the HDcontroller 31 of the operation information.

[0187] The CD controller 21 executes a required operation such asfast-forward, rewind, automatic music sensor, or pause in response tothe operation information of FF, REW, AMS or PAUSE. In thisspecification, the status different from normal continuous reproduction,such as fast-forward, rewind, automatic music sensor or pause, isreferred to as special reproducing status.

[0188] The system controller 1 notifies the HD controller 31 of suchinformation because the dubbing operation must be interrupted when thespecial reproducing status is set in the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0189] If the user carried out a stop operation using the operating unit5, the system controller 1 goes from step F108 to step F111 and notifiesthe CD controller 21 of the operation information. Then, the series ofprocessing ends. In this case, the CD controller 21 ends thereproduction of the disc 90 in response to the notification of the stopoperation.

[0190] If the reproduction of the disc 90 is completed to the end by theCD reproducing unit 2, the CD controller 21 sends a notification of CDreproduction to the system controller 1. When the notification is sent,the system controller 1 detects the notification at step F107 and endsthe processing.

[0191] (8) Processing by CD Controller

[0192] The processing by the CD controller 21 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0193] At step F201 of FIG. 11, the CD controller 21 waits for areproduction instruction from the system controller 1. That is, The CDcontroller 21 waits for the reproducing operation information and theTOC data transfer instruction send by the system controller 1 at stepF102 of FIG. 10.

[0194] As the instruction is detected at step F201, the CD controller 21at step F202 transfers the TOC data read with respect to the currentlyloaded disc 90 to the HD controller 31 in accordance with theinstruction from the system controller 1.

[0195] At step F203, the CD controller 21 sets a variable x to be thetrack number of the first track to be reproduced. For example, if theuser carried out the normal reproducing operation, the variable x is 1.If the user carried out the reproducing operation with a designatedtrack number, the variable x is set to be the track number designated bythe user.

[0196] If the user carried out the programmed reproduction operation(reproduction with a designated order of tunes), the variable x is setto be a track number designated by the user as the first tune.

[0197] If the user carried out the shuffled reproduction operation, theCD controller 21 selects a random track number and sets the variable xto be this track number.

[0198] At step F204, the CD controller 21 waits for a reproduction startinstruction from the system controller 1.

[0199] At step F106 shown in FIG. 10, the system controller 1 sends thereproduction start instruction and the notification of the recordingmode to the CD controller 21. As these are detected at step F204, the CDcontroller 21 goes to step F205 and branches the processing inaccordance with the recording mode of the HD controller 31 which isnotified of.

[0200] If the non-recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, theprocessing goes directly to step F211.

[0201] If the all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31,the processing goes to step F206. However, since the recording at the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 is not being interrupted at the start ofreproduction, the processing goes directly to step F211.

[0202] If the partial track recording mode is set in the HD controller31, at the time of starting reproduction of each track, the processingto set whether or not the track is to be dubbed to the HDD 32 isperformed at steps F208, F209 and F210.

[0203] If the partial track recording mode is set, the HD controller 31also notifies the system controller 1 of the track number of a track tobe dubbed when notifying the system controller 1 of the mode. The tracknumber is also included in the notification of the mode (informationreceived together with the reproduction start instruction at step F204)from the system controller 1 to the CD controller 21. In short, the CDcontroller 21 grasps the track number of the track to be dubbed by theHD recording/reproducing unit 3.

[0204] Thus, at step F208, whether or not a track #x to be reproduced isa track as a dubbing target is determined. If the track #x is a dubbingtarget, CD controller 21 at step F209 gives a recording startinstruction for the track #x to the HD controller 31 and then goes tostep F211. On the other hand, if the track #x to be reproduced is not adubbing target, the CD controller 21 at step F210 gives a recordingstandby instruction to the HD controller 31 and then goes to step F211.

[0205] As the processing goes to step F211, the CD controller 21 startsreproducing the track #x. If the user carried out the normal reproducingoperation, the reproduction is started at a track #1 at this point. Ifthe user carried out the reproducing operation with a designated tracknumber, the reproduction is started at the track of the track numberdesignated by the user. In the case of the programmed reproduction orshuffled reproduction, too, the reproduction is started at the firsttrack to be reproduced.

[0206] After starting the reproduction of the track #x, the CDcontroller 21 monitors the reproduction progress status and the useroperation by using a loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

[0207] At step F212, the CD controller 21 monitors the completion of thereproduction of the track #x. At step F213, the CD controller 21monitors the execution of a stop operation by the user. At step F214,the CD controller 21 monitors the execution of an operation to designatea shift to special reproduction such as FF, REW or the like by the user.

[0208] As the reproduction of the track #x progresses and thereproduction of the track #x is completed, that is, for example, whenthe reproduction of the first tune ends, the CD controller 21 at stepF212 detects the completion of the reproduction of the track #x and thengoes to step F215.

[0209] In this case of going from step F212 to step F215, one tune asthe track #x has been reproduced from the beginning to the end in thenormal reproducing status. In that case, a notification of completion ofreproduction for the track #x is outputted to the HD controller 31. Thenotification of completion of reproduction is information indicating tothe HD controller 31 that the track #x has been reproduced from thebeginning to the end normally (without being in the special reproducingstatus).

[0210] Next, at step F216, whether all the tracks to be reproduced hasbeen completed or not with respect to the currently reproduced disc 90is determined.

[0211] If the user carried out the normal reproducing operation and CDreproduction was carried out, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction of the last track recorded on the disc90 is completed. If the user carried out the reproducing operation witha designated track number, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction started at the track of the track numberdesignated by the user reaches the completion of the reproduction of thelast track. If the user designated the programmed reproduction, it isassumed that the CD reproduction is completed when the reproduction ofthe all the tracks designated in the order is completed. In the case ofthe shuffled reproduction, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction of all the recorded tracks is completed.

[0212] If the CD reproduction is not completed yet, the CD controller 21goes to step F217 and substitutes the track number of the next track tobe reproduced for the variable x. If the user carried out the normalreproducing operation or the reproducing operation with a designatedtrack number, a value obtained by adding 1 to the variable x up to then,that is, the next track number, is used. In the case of the programmedreproduction, the track number of the next track to be reproducedcorresponding to the tune order designated by the user is substitutedfor the variable x. In the case of the shuffled reproduction, a tracknumber is randomly selected from the track numbers of the tracks whichhave not been reproduced and the selected track number is substitutedfor the variable x.

[0213] Then, the processing returns to step F205 of FIG. 11.

[0214] Similarly, at step F205, the processing is carried out inaccordance with the recording mode of the HD controller 31. Particularlyin the case of the partial track recording mode, whether or not a track#x to be reproduced from now is a recording target is determined by theprocessing of steps F208, F209 and F210. If the track #x is a recordingtarget, the CD controller 21 instructs the HD controller 31 to recordthe track. If the track #x is not a recording target, the CD controller21 instructs the HD controller 31 to be on standby for recording.

[0215] If the all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31,the CD controller 21 at step F206 determines whether the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 is on standby for recording or not. If itis on standby, the CD controller 21 at step F207 gives a recordingresumption instruction to the HD controller 31.

[0216] The processing goes to step F211 and the reproduction shifts tothe track #x, that is, the next track. For convenience, the processingat step F211 is described here as to “start reproducing the track #x”.Actually, however, in the case of reproducing in the order of the tracknumbers, or when shifting to the reproduction of the next track oncompletion of the reproduction of a certain track, the processing totemporarily stop and then resume the reproduction is not necessary. Inshort, the reproducing operation itself may be continuously carried out.However, in the case of the programmed reproduction or shuffledreproduction, when reproducing the next track, it is often necessary tointerrupt the reproduction and carry out an access operation of theoptical head 23.

[0217] If the user carried out an operation to designate the specialreproduction such as FF by using the operating unit 5 during thereproduction of the track #x, the operation information to that effectis sent from the system controller 1 to the CD controller 21 at stepF110 of FIG. 10. If the notification of the operation is sent, theprocessing by the CD controller 21 shifts from step F214 to step F218and executes the designated operation. That is, fast-forwardreproduction in the case of the FF operation, rewind reproduction in thecase of the REW operation, pause in the case of the PAUSE operation, oraccess to the leading position of the previous or next track in the caseof the AMS operation, is carried out in the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0218] When the designated special reproducing status ends, theprocessing shifts to a loop of steps F219, F220 and F221, and the CDcontroller 21 resumes the normal reproduction (F220) and monitorswhether the reproduction shifted to the leading end of the track or not(F219) and whether a reproduction stop instruction is given or thecompletion of CD reproduction is reached (F212).

[0219] For example, if fast-forward or rewind is carried out inaccordance with the FF or REW operation, the normal reproduction isrestored when the foregoing operation ends. If the leading end of thecurrent track or another track is reached in the state where the normalreproduction is restored, the processing goes from step F219 to stepF217 and the track number of a track to be reproduced from that point issubstituted for the variable x. Then, the processing returns to stepF205 and the above-described processing is carried out to again set thereproducing status for the track #x from step F211. Then, the processingshifts to the loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

[0220] If the completion of CD reproduction is reached at step F221 orthe stop operation by the user is notified of from the system controller1 when the normal reproduction is restored from the fast-forward orrewind operation, the processing goes from step F221 to step F222.

[0221] If the pause operation is carried out, a reproduction pausestatus is set in the CD reproducing unit 2 at step F218. As the usercarries out an operation to cancel the pause, the processing shifts tothe loop of steps F219, F220 and F221 and the normal reproduction isresumed.

[0222] After that, the processing is carried out in accordance with theresult of step F219 or F221 similarly to the case of fast-forward.

[0223] If the automatic music sensor operation is carried out by the AMSoperation, the leading position of the track is accessed at step F218.Therefore, it is determined at step F219 that the reproduction shiftedto the leading end of the track when the access ends. The processingthen goes to step F217 and the track number of the track for which theautomatic music sensor operation was carried out is substituted for thevariable x. The processing then returns to step F205 and theabove-described processing is carried out to again set the reproducingstatus for the track #x from step F211. Then, the processing shifts tothe loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

[0224] At step F110 of FIG. 10, as described above, the systemcontroller 1 also gives the HD controller 31 a notification to theeffect that the operation to designate the special reproduction wascarried out. As will be described later, when it is determined that thespecial reproduction is to be carried out by the CD reproducing unit 2,the HD controller 31 interrupts the recording operation which is beingexecuted.

[0225] At the CD controller 21, in the case where the processing returnsto step F205 after controlling the special reproduction, if theall-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, it will bedetermined at step F206 that the recording is being interrupted. Thus,at step F207, the CD controller 21 instructs the HD controller 31 toresume recording and carries out reproduction of the track #x from stepF211.

[0226] If the partial track recording mode is set in the HD controller31, even in the case where the processing returns to step F205 after thespecial reproduction, the processing of steps F208, F209 and F210 issimilar to the above-described processing.

[0227] If a notification of the stop operation by the user is given bythe system controller 1 during the reproduction of the track #x, theprocessing goes from step F213 to step F222.

[0228] If it is determined at step F216 that the CD reproduction iscompleted, again, the processing goes to step F222.

[0229] Moreover, if, after the normal reproducing status is restoredfrom the special reproducing status, a notification of the stopoperation by the user is given from the system controller 1 or it isdetermined that the CD reproduction is completed, the processing goesfrom step F221 to step F222.

[0230] When step F222 is thus reached, the CD controller 21 performscontrol to end the reproducing operation by the CD reproducing unit 2,and at step F223, sends a notification of the end of CD reproduction tothe system controller 1 and the HD controller 31. That is, each unit isnotified of the end of the reproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2.Then, the series of processing ends.

[0231] (9) Processing by HD Controller

[0232] The processing by the HD controller 31 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15.

[0233] At step F301 of FIG. 13, the HD controller 31 waits for transferof TOC data from the CD controller 21. That is, the HD controller 31waits for the TOC data sent by the CD controller 21 at step F201 of FIG.11.

[0234] When the TOC data is inputted, the HD controller 31 at step F302searches the database stored in the HDD 32. That is, the HD controller31 generates the identification information DID of FIG. 9 from thecontent of the inputted TOC data and uses the generated identificationinformation DID to search the database to determine whether there is adatabase file having the same identification information DID recordedtherein, of respective database files in the database.

[0235] A database file having the same identification information DID isfound in the case where reproduction of the disc 90 currently loaded inthe CD reproducing unit 2 was also carried out in the past and hence thedatabase file for the disc 90 has already been prepared. On the otherhand, a database file having the same identification information DID isnot found in the case where reproduction of the disc 90 currently loadedin the CD reproducing unit 2 is now reproduced for the first time.

[0236] Thus, if the result of the search shows that there is no suchdatabase file, the HD controller 31 goes from step F303 to step F304.The HD controller 31 newly prepares a database file having the preparedidentification information DID appended thereto and adds this databasefile to the database.

[0237] In that case, with respect to the disc 90 from which reproductionis to be carried out from now by the CD reproducing unit 2, none of thetracks has been dubbed yet. Therefore, at step F306, the all-trackrecording mode is set and the HD controller 31 is caused to be onstandby for recording.

[0238] If such a database is found as a result of the search, theprocessing goes from step F303 to step F305 and the HD controller 31confirms the recording flag of that database file. If the recording flagis off for all the tracks, none of the tracks has been dubbed yet withrespect to the disc 90 from which reproduction is to be carried out fromnow by the CD reproducing unit 2. Therefore, the processing goes fromstep F305 to step F306. In this case, too, the all-track recording modeis set and the HD controller 31 is caused to be on standby forrecording.

[0239] On the other hand, if the recording flag is on for all thetracks, all the tracks have already been dubbed with respect to the disc90 from which reproduction is to be carried out from now by the CDreproducing unit 2 and dubbing is not necessary this time. Therefore,the processing goes from step F307 to step F308 and the HD controller 31notifies the system controller 1 of the non-recording mode. Theprocessing then ends.

[0240] If the recording flag is on for some of the tracks and the othertracks have not been dubbed yet, the processing goes from step F307 tostep F309. The partial track recording mode is set and the HD controller31 is caused to be on standby for recording.

[0241] In the case where the all-track recording mode is set at stepF306 or the partial track recording mode is set at step F309 and the HDcontroller 31 is on standby for recording, the HD controller 31 at stepF310 notifies the system controller 1 of the recording mode thus set andthe recording standby status indicating the completion of thepreparation for recording. In the case of notifying of the partial trackrecording mode, the track number as a recording target (track number forwhich the recording flag is off) is also notified of.

[0242] In the case of the all-track recording mode, the processing goesto step F311 of FIG. 14. In the case of the partial track recordingmode, the processing goes to step F322 of FIG. 15.

[0243] First, the case of the all-track recording mode will bedescribed.

[0244] The system controller 1 at step F104 of FIG. 10 waits for thenotification given by the HD controller 31 at step F310 or step F308. Asdescribed above, if the system controller 1 is notified of the all-trackrecording mode from the HD controller 31, the system controller 1 atstep F105 gives the recording start instruction to the HD controller 31.

[0245] The HD controller 31 at step F311 of FIG. 14 waits for therecording start instruction from the system controller 1, and at stepF312, the HD controller 31 starts the recording operation in response tothe recording start instruction. That is, in this case, since the systemcontroller 1 (at step F106 of FIG. 10) instructs the CD reproducing unit2 to start reproduction, the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproductionat step F211 of FIG. 12 and the reproduced digital audio data S1 isinputted to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3. The HD controller 31starts recording this inputted digital audio data S1 to the HDD 32.

[0246] After starting the recording operation, the HD controller 31monitors the notification of the end of CD reproduction from the CDcontroller 21, the information of the special reproducing operation fromthe system controller 1, and the notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #x from the CD controller 21, by using a loopof steps F313, F314 and F315.

[0247] As is understood from the processing by the CD controller 21shown in FIG. 12, only if a certain track was reproduced from thebeginning to the end in the normal reproducing status by the CDreproducing unit 2, the CD controller 21 sends the notification of thecompletion of the reproduction of the track #x at step F215. This meansthe completion of the recording of the track #x to the HDD 32.Therefore, the processing goes from step F315 to step F316 and the HDcontroller 31 carries out processing to update the recording flag forthe track #x to be turned on in the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 which is currently being reproduced.

[0248] Since the operation to record the inputted digital audio data S1to the HDD 32 is continued, the processing returns to the loop of stepsF313, F314 and F315.

[0249] Although not shown in the flowchart, if a recording error isgenerated on the side of the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 during therecording of the track #x and the track #x cannot be correctly recorded,the recording flag will not turned on.

[0250] If the user carried out an operation such as FF, REW or the like,the CD reproducing unit 2 is caused to be in the special reproducingstatus such as fast-forward reproduction, as described above. In thiscase, the correct and continuous digital audio data S1 is not inputtedto the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 and the track #x cannot beappropriately recorded. If the user carried out the operation such asFF, REW or the like, the operation information is sent from the systemcontroller 1 (F110 shown in FIG. 10). As the HD controller 31 detectsthe operation information of the special reproduction at step F314, theprocessing goes to step F317 and the HD controller 31 interrupts thecurrently performed recording of the track #x to the HDD 32.

[0251] Moreover, at this point, since the recording of the track #x tothe HDD 32 has been carried out to a halfway part, the HD controller 31at step F318 erases the data of the track #x recorded to the halfwaypart to the HDD 32.

[0252] At step F319 or F320, the HD controller 31 waits for therecording resumption instruction or the notification of the completionof CD reproduction from the CD controller 21.

[0253] As described with reference to FIG. 12, in the case where thereproduction from step F221 ends before the normal reproduction reachesthe leading end of a certain track after carrying out the fast-forwardoperation or the like in the CD reproducing unit 2, the CD controller 21sends the notification of the end of CD reproduction at step F223.

[0254] In this case, the processing by the HD controller 31 goes fromstep F320 to step F321.

[0255] On the other hand, in the case where the normal reproductionreaches the leading end of a certain track after carrying out thefast-forward operation or the like in the CD reproducing unit 2, theprocessing by the CD controller 21 goes from step F219 to step F217 andthen to step F205. The processing then goes to step F206 since theall-track recording mode is set in the HD recording/reproducing unit 3.In this case, since the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is in therecording interrupted status, the CD controller 21 at step F207 givesthe recording resumption instruction to the HD controller 31. Then, atstep F211, reproduction is started at the leading end of the next track#x.

[0256] In this case, the processing by the HD controller 31 returns fromstep F319 to step F312 and recording is resumed. In short, the HDcontroller 31 records to the HDD 32 the digital audio data S1 which isinputted as the CD reproducing unit 2 reproduces the data from theleading end of a certain track.

[0257] When the reproduction is ended in the CD reproducing unit 2 bythe stop operation by the user or by the completion of CD reproduction,the CD controller 21 sends the notification of the end of CDreproduction at step F223 of FIG. 12. As the HD controller 31 receivesthis notification at step F313 during the recording, the processing goesto step F321. Also in the case where the HD controller 31 receives thenotification of the end of CD reproduction at step F320 during therecording interruption (standby), the processing goes to step F321.

[0258] At step F321, the HD controller 31 ends the recording or therecording standby status and end the series of processing.

[0259] The processing by the HD controller 31 in the case where thepartial track recording mode is set by the processing of FIG. 13 willnow be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0260] If the response from the HD controller 31 is the partial trackrecording mode at step F104 of FIG. 10, the system controller 1 at stepF106 gives the reproduction start instruction to the CD controller 21and also notifies the CD controller 21 of the partial track recordingmode and the recording target track.

[0261] In this case, the HD controller 31 monitors the recording standbyinstruction, the recording instruction, or the notification of the endof CD reproduction from the CD controller 21, by using a loop of stepsF322, F323 and F324 of FIG. 15

[0262] As described with reference to FIG. 11, if the partial trackrecording mode is set in the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, the CDcontroller 21 discriminates at step F208 whether or not the track #x tobe reproduced from now is a recording target to the HDD 32, at everytiming of starting the reproduction of a certain track. Then, the CDcontroller 21 sends the recording instruction (F209) or the recordingstandby instruction (F210) to the HD controller 31.

[0263] If the HD controller 31 received the recording instruction, theprocessing goes to step F323 to step F325 and the HD controller 31starts the recording of the track #x to be reproduced to the HDD 32.

[0264] On the other hand, if the HD controller 31 received the recordingstandby instruction at step F322, the recording standby status ismaintained and HD controller 31 waits for the notification of the end ofCD reproduction or the recording instruction for the next track by usingthe loop of steps F322, F323 and F324.

[0265] For example, in the case where not the first tune but the secondtune to be reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2 is a recordingtarget, the CD controller 21 gives the recording standby instruction tothe HD controller 31 at the start of the reproduction of the first tuneand gives the recording instruction at the start of the reproduction ofthe second tune. In that case, the HD controller 31 is on standby byusing the loop of steps F322, F323 and F324 during the reproduction ofthe first tune. At the start of the reproduction of the second tune, theprocessing goes from step F323 to step F325 in response to the recordinginstruction and the HD controller 31 starts recording.

[0266] After starting the recording operation, the HD controller 31monitors the notification of the end of CD reproduction from the CDcontroller 21, the information of the special reproducing operation fromthe system controller 1, and the notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #x from the CD controller 21, by using a loopof steps F326, F327 and F328.

[0267] Only if the a certain track was reproduced from the beginning tothe end in the normal reproducing status by the CD reproducing unit 2 inaccordance with the processing by the CD controller 21 of FIG. 12, theCD controller 21 sends the notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #x at step F215. In this case, it is assumedthat the recording of the track #x as a recording target to the HDD 32has been completed. Therefore, the processing by the HD controller 31goes from step F328 to step F329 and the HD controller 31 carries outprocessing to update the recording flag for the track #x to be turned onin the database file corresponding to the disc 90 which is currentlybeing reproduced. Then, on completion of the recording of the track #xdesignated by the CD controller 21, the HD controller 31 is caused to bein the recording standby status at step F330 and the processing returnsto the loop of step of steps F322, F323 and F324.

[0268] Although not shown in the flowchart, in this case, too, if arecording error is generated on the side of the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 during the recording of the track #x and the track #x cannot becorrectly recorded, the recording flag will not turned on.

[0269] Subsequently, the CD reproducing unit 2 proceeds to thereproduction of the next track. In this case, too, the recordinginstruction or the recording standby instruction is sent depending onthe discrimination as to whether the track is a recording target or not.Therefore, the HD controller 31 starts recording at step F325 or is onstandby for recording by using the loop of steps F322, F323 and F324, inaccordance with the instruction.

[0270] If the user carried out an operation such as FF, REW or the likeduring the execution of the recording, the CD reproducing unit 2 iscaused to be in the special reproducing status such as fast-forwardreproduction, as described above. In this case, the correct andcontinuous digital audio data S1 is not inputted to the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3. If the operation information of FF, REW orthe like is sent from the system controller 1 (F110 shown in FIG. 10),the processing by the HD controller 31 goes from step F327 to step F331,and the HD controller 31 interrupts the currently performed recording ofthe track #x to the HDD 32 and is caused to be in the recording standbystatus.

[0271] At this point, since the recording of the track #x to the HDD 32has been carried out to a halfway part, the HD controller 31 at stepF332 erases the data of the track #x recorded to the halfway part to theHDD 32.

[0272] The processing returns to the loop of steps F322, F323 and F324and the HD controller 31 waits for the next instruction or notificationfrom the CD controller 21.

[0273] When the reproduction is ended in the CD reproducing unit 2 bythe stop operation by the user or by the completion of CD reproduction,the CD controller 21 sends the notification of the end of CDreproduction at step F223 of FIG. 12. As the HD controller 31 receivesthis notification at step F326 during the recording, the processing goesto step F333. Also in the case where the HD controller 31 receives thenotification of the end of CD reproduction at step F324 during therecording standby, the processing goes to step F333.

[0274] At step F333, the HD controller 31 ends the recording or therecording standby status and end the series of processing.

[0275] (10) Exemplary Dubbing Operation

[0276] A specific example of the dubbing operation realized through theprocessing carried out by the system controller 1, the CD controller 21and the HD controller 31 as described above will now be described withreference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

[0277] To the operation shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the step numbers areappended which correspond to the processing by the system controller 1,the CD controller 21 and the HD controller 31 described with referenceto FIGS. 10to 15, and these step numbers are also used in thedescription with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

[0278] [In the Case Where a CD is Normally Reproduced from the Beginningto the End in the All-Track Recording Mode]

[0279] In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 16, the all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31 and all the tracks fromthe first track #1 to the last track #n of the disc 90 are normallyreproduced in the CD reproducing unit 2. That is, the user designatesthe normal reproduction from the first tune and does not carry out anoperation to set the special reproducing status such as FF during thereproduction.

[0280] As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation bythe user (F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information anda TOC data transmission instruction to the CD reproducing unit 2 (CDcontroller 21) (F102).

[0281] In response to this, the CD controller 21 sends the TOC data ofthe disc 90 to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 (HD controller 31)(F202).

[0282] On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches thedatabase (F302). In this case, if there is no database file withidentification information DID, or if there is a database file withidentification information DID but all the tracks are unrecorded, theall-track recording mode is set (F306).

[0283] The HD controller 31 gives a notification to the effect that itis in the recording standby status with the all-track recording mode, tothe system controller 1 (F310).

[0284] In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, thesystem controller 1 gives a recording start instruction to the HDcontroller 31 (F105) and also gives a reproduction start instruction anda notification of the all-track recording mode to the CD controller 21(F106).

[0285] This causes the CD reproducing unit 2 to start reproduction(F211) and also causes the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 to startrecording (F312).

[0286] When the reproduction of the track #1 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #1 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

[0287] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

[0288] When the reproduction of the track #2 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #2 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

[0289] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #2 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

[0290] Similarly, with respect to the subsequent tracks, in response tothe completion of the reproduction of one track and the completion ofthe recording to the HDD 32, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag for the track.

[0291] When the reproduction of the last track #n is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #n to the HD controller 31 (F215), and the HD controller 31turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track #n (F316). Atthis point, since the CD reproduction is completed, the CD reproducingunit 2 ends the reproduction (F222). Then, the CD controller 21 sends anotification of the end of CD reproduction to the HD controller 31 andthe system controller 1 (F223).

[0292] In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording(F321).

[0293] In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 16, all the tracksreproduced from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2 are dubbed tothe HDD 32 and the recording flags for all the tracks are turned on inthe database file corresponding to the disc 90.

[0294] That is, dubbing from the CD is carried out without the user'sawareness, and even if reproduction from the same CD is later carriedout again, the non-recording mode will be set in the HD controller 31,thus preventing execution of unnecessary dubbing.

[0295] [In the Case Where the User Carries out the Stop Operation DuringCD Reproduction in the All-Track Recording Mode]

[0296] In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 17, the all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31 similarly to theabove-described example, but the user carries out the reproduction stopoperation during the reproduction from the disc 90 by the CD reproducingunit 2.

[0297] As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation bythe user (F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information anda TOC data transmission instruction to the CD controller 21 (F102).However, if, for example, the user designates the reproduction from thetrack #3, the operation information to that effect is sent to the CDcontroller 21.

[0298] In response to the TOC data transmission instruction, the CDcontroller 21 sends the TOC data of the disc 90 to the HD controller 31(F202).

[0299] On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches thedatabase (F302). In this case, if there is no database file withidentification information DID, or if there is a database file withidentification information DID but all the tracks are unrecorded, theall-track recording mode is set (F306).

[0300] The HD controller 31 gives a notification to the effect that itis in the recording standby status with the all-track recording mode, tothe system controller 1 (F310).

[0301] In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, thesystem controller 1 gives a recording start instruction to the HDcontroller 31 (F105) and also gives a reproduction start instruction anda notification of the all-track recording mode to the CD controller 21(F106).

[0302] This causes the CD reproducing unit 2 to start reproduction(F211) and also causes the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 to startrecording (F312). Since the user designated the reproduction from thetrack #3, the CD reproducing unit 2 carries out the reproduction fromthe track #3.

[0303] When the reproduction of the track #3 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #3 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

[0304] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #3 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

[0305] The CD controller 21 continuously carries out the reproduction,and when the reproduction of the track #4 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #4 to the HD controller 31 (F215). In response to this, theHD controller 31 turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track#4 (F316).

[0306] The reproduction is continuously carried out, and when thereproduction of the track #5 is completed, the CD controller 21 sends anotification of the completion of the reproduction of the track #5 tothe HD controller 31 (F215). In response to this, the HD controller 31turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track #5 (F316).

[0307] The CD reproducing unit 2 continuously carries out thereproduction of the track #6, and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3records the digital audio data S1 of the track #6 to the HDD 32. It isnow assumed that the user carried out the stop operation during thistime. As the system controller 1 detects the stop operation by the user(F108), the system controller 1 sends a reproduction stop instruction tothe CD controller 21 (F111).

[0308] In response to this, the CD controller 21 ends the CD reproducingoperation (F222) and sends a notification of the end of CD reproductionto the HD controller 31 and the system controller 1 (F223).

[0309] In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording(F321).

[0310] In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 17, the tracks #3, #4and #5 reproduced from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2 aredubbed to the HDD 32 and the recording flags for the tracks #3, #4 and#5 are turned on in the database file corresponding to the disc 90. Asfor the track #6, even though the data is partly recorded, the recordingis not reflected as the completion of the recording on the databasefile. Therefore, the track #6 is managed as not being dubbed.

[0311] Thus, if the reproduction from the same CD is later carried outagain, the partial track recording mode will be set in the HD controller31 and the tracks except for the tracks #3, #4 and #5 will be recordingtargets. Even if only the track #3 is reproduced many times, the track#3 will no longer be dubbed.

[0312] Although not shown in the processing by the HD controller 31 ofFIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the data of the track recorded to a halfway part tothe HDD 32 when the stop operation is carried out, for example, the dataof the track #6 in the case of FIG. 17, may be erased from the HDD 32.

[0313] [In the Case Where the FF Operation is Carried Out During CDReproduction in the All-Track Recording Mode]

[0314] In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 18, the all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31 similarly to theabove-described examples, but the user carries out the FF operationduring the reproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2.

[0315] The operations up to the start of reproduction by the CDreproducing unit 2 and the start of recording by the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 after the user carries out the reproducingoperation are the same as those in FIG. 16 and therefore will not bedescribed further in detail.

[0316] After the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproduction (F211) andthe HD recording/reproducing unit 3 starts recording (F312), first, theCD controller 21 sends a notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #1 to the HD controller 31 when thereproduction of the track #1 is completed (F215).

[0317] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

[0318] After that, it is assumed that the user carried out the FFoperation during the reproduction of the track #2 by the CD reproducingunit 2.

[0319] As the system controller 1 detects the FF operation by the user(F109), the system controller 1 sends the FF operation information tothe CD controller 21 and the HD controller 31 (F110).

[0320] In response to this, the CD controller 21 executes fast-forwardreproduction (F218) and resumes the normal reproduction after thefast-forward operation ends (F220).

[0321] The HD controller 31 interrupts the recording operation inresponse to the notification of the FF operation (F317). At this point,the track #2 has been recorded to a halfway part to the HDD 32.Therefore, the HD controller 31 erases the data of the track #2 to thehalfway part from the HDD 32 (F318).

[0322] After the CD reproducing unit 2 ends the FF operation andrestores the normal reproduction, when the reproduction reaches theleading end of the track #3, the CD controller 21 instructs the HDcontroller 31 to resume the recording (F207). In response to this, theHD controller 31 resumes the recording operation (F312). That is, the HDcontroller 31 starts recording the digital audio data S1 of the track #3to the HDD 32.

[0323] After that, when the reproduction of the track #3 is completed,the CD controller 21 sends a notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #3 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

[0324] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #3 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

[0325] The CD reproducing unit 2 continuously carries out thereproduction of the track #4, and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3records the digital audio data S1 of the track #4 to the HDD 32. It isnow assumed that the user carried out the stop operation during thistime. As the system controller 1 detects the stop operation by the user(F108), the system controller 1 sends a reproduction stop instruction tothe CD controller 21 (F111).

[0326] In response to this, the CD controller 21 ends the CD reproducingoperation (F222) and sends a notification of the end of CD reproductionto the HD controller 31 and the system controller 1 (F223).

[0327] In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording(F321).

[0328] In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 18, of the tracks #1,#2, #3 and #4 reproduced from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2,only the tracks #1 and #3 that are completely reproduced in the normalstatus are dubbed to the HDD 32. That is, the recording flags only thetracks #1 and #3 are turned on in the database file corresponding to thedisc 90.

[0329] As for the track #2 for which fast-forward was carried out fromits halfway part, and the track #4 which was stopped at its halfwaypart, the recording is not reflected as the completion of the recordingon the database file. Therefore, the tracks #2 and #4 are managed as notbeing dubbed.

[0330] Thus, if the reproduction from the same CD is later carried outagain, the partial track recording mode will be set in the HD controller31 and the tracks except for the tracks #1 and #3 will be recordingtargets. Even if only the track #3 is reproduced many times, the track#3 will no longer be dubbed.

[0331] [In the Case Where Tracks #1 and #4 are Recording Targets in thePartial Track Recording Mode]

[0332] In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 19, the partial trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31. For example, it isassumed that four tunes of tracks #1 to #4 are recorded on the currentlyloaded CD and that the tracks #2 and #3 were recorded to the HDD 32 inthe past. The user carries out an operation to normally reproduce fromthe first tune on this CD and all the tracks from the first track #1 tothe last track #4 on the CD 90 are normally reproduced by the CDreproducing unit 2.

[0333] As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation bythe user (F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information anda TOC data transmission instruction to the CD reproducing unit 2 (CDcontroller 21) (F102).

[0334] In response to this, the CD controller 21 sends the TOC data ofthe disc 90 to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 (HD controller 31)(F202).

[0335] On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches thedatabase (F302). In this case, there is a database file withidentification information DID and the recording flags for the tracks #2and #3 are on in the database file.

[0336] Thus, the HD controller 31 sets the partial track recording mode(F306), and gives the system controller 1 a notification to the effectthat the HD controller 31 is in the recording standby status with thepartial track recording mode and that recording target tracks are thetracks #1 and #4 (F310).

[0337] In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, thesystem controller 1 gives a reproduction start instruction to the CDcontroller 21 (F106). At this point, the system controller 1 also givesthe CD controller 21 a notification to the effect that the partial trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31 and that recording targettracks are the tracks #1 and #4.

[0338] Since the track #1 which is to be reproduced first is a recordingtarget, the CD controller sends a recording instruction for the track #1to the HD controller 31 (F209).

[0339] The CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproduction at the track #1(F211) and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 starts recording inresponse to the recording instruction (F325).

[0340] When the reproduction of the track #1 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #1 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

[0341] In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F329). Then, theHD controller 31 enters the recording standby status (F330).

[0342] When starting the reproduction of the track #2, the CD controller21 gives a recording standby instruction to the HD controller 31 becausethe track #2 is not a recording target (F210). Therefore, the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 does not record the track #2.

[0343] Similarly, at the start of the reproduction of the track #3, theCD controller 21 gives a recording standby instruction to the HDcontroller 31 because the track #3 is not a recording target (F210).Therefore, the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 does not record the track#3.

[0344] When starting the reproduction of the track #4, the CD controller21 gives a recording instruction to the HD controller 31 because thetrack #4 is a recording target (F209). Therefore, the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 starts recording the track #4 (F325). Afterthat, when the reproduction of the track #4 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #4 to the HD controller 31 (F215). The HD controller 31turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track #4 (F329) andthen enters the recording standby status (F330).

[0345] At this point, since the CD reproduction is completed, the CDreproducing unit 2 ends the reproduction (F222). The CD controller 21sends a notification of the end of CD reproduction to the HD controller31 and the system controller 1 (F223). In response to this, the HDcontroller 31 ends the recording standby status and ends the processing(F333).

[0346] As in the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 19, in the case ofthe partial track recording mode, only the tracks that have not beendubbed to the HDD 32, of the tracks reproduced from the disc 90 by theCD reproducing unit 2, are dubbed.

[0347] In the case of the partial track recording mode, too, if the FFoperation or the stop operation is carried out during the reproduction,the operation similar to the operation described with reference to FIGS.17 and 18 is carried out accordingly.

[0348] The embodiment of the present invention is described above.According to the present invention, when reproducing data from a CD(disc 90), the data is automatically dubbed to the HDD 32. However, withrespect to each track to be reproduced, the recording flag recorded inthe database file is referred to and dubbing is performed only for atrack which has not been dubbed yet.

[0349] Therefore, as the user reproduces data from a CD without beingaware of the dubbing operation, the tracks recorded on the CD will beautomatically saved into the HDD and no duplicate dubbing of the sametune will be performed.

[0350] A track for which the special reproduction is performed or whichis stopped during the reproduction is considered not to be dubbed.Therefore, the track will be dubbed at a later opportunity. In short,the complete track data is accumulated on the HDD 32.

[0351] Such an HDD 32 is automatically formed as a music server withoutthe user's awareness. Therefore, with respect to a CD which wasreproduced once, the user can enjoy reproducing the tunes from the HDD32 without loading the CD.

[0352] (11) Other Examples

[0353] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary structureand the exemplary operations in the above-described embodiment, andvarious modifications may be considered.

[0354] For example, in the case of the partial track recording mode,though whether each track is to be dubbed or not is determined on theside of the CD controller 21 in the above-described example, it may bedetermined by the HD controller 31.

[0355] That is, the HD controller 31 can discriminate the currentlyinputted tack number if the HD controller 31 constantly receiving theinformation of the tack number (that is, subcode information) togetherwith the digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2.Therefore, the HD controller 31 can discriminate whether or not theinputted digital audio data S1 is data of a recording target track, andmay select execution of recording or standby in accordance with theresult of the discrimination.

[0356] The notifications and instructions transmitted between the systemcontroller 1, the CD controller 21 and the HD controller 31 in theabove-described processing are simply some examples and which controllersends or receives the notifications and instructions may beappropriately changed in accordance with the actual structure.

[0357] For example, the system controller 1 may monistically manage allthe operations so as to control the CD reproduction and the recording tothe HDD 32.

[0358] The storage for the database is not limited to the HDD 32 and maybe a non-volatile memory or the like.

[0359] The identification information DID for identifying each CD is notlimited to the information formed from the TOC data and may beadditional information or the manufacture number of the CD.

[0360] In the above-described embodiment, the dubbing device in whichthe CD reproducing unit and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 areintegrally provided is used. However, the dubbing device may also beformed by providing these units as separate equipments and connectingthem to enable dubbing.

[0361] The first recording medium is not limited to a CD and may be anMD, a memory card, a DAT or the like. Similarly, the second recordingmedium is not limited to an HDD and may be a solid-state memory, anothertype of disc-like medium, or a tape-like medium.

[0362] Industrial Applicability

[0363] According to the present invention, when data is reproduced fromthe portable first recording medium, the data is dubbed to thelarge-capacity second recording medium. Particularly, when the data isreproduced from the first recording medium, the database means issearched on the basis of the identification information for the firstrecording medium, and execution control of dubbing is carried out inaccordance with the result of the recording history information found bythe search. For example, whether the data to be reproduced from thefirst recording medium has already been recorded to the second recordingmedium or not is discriminated, and if the data to be reproduced has notbeen recorded to the second recording medium, dubbing is carried out.

[0364] Therefore, as the user reproduced data from the first recordingmedium such as a CD without being aware of the dubbing operation, thedata is dubbed to the second recording medium such as an HDD. Thisimproves the convenience and eliminates any failure in the operation bythe user. Particularly, by not performing dubbing in the case where thedata has already been dubbed, unnecessary consumption of the capacity ofthe second recording medium can be avoided.

[0365] Since the second recording medium has a large capacity, it rarelyoccurs that the remaining capacity might be insufficient for the use bythe user because of automatic dubbing. In this respect, no inconveniencefor the user occurs. Since tunes and the like are saved to the secondrecording medium such as an HDD without the user's awareness, forexample, music server can be automatically prepared and arbitrarilyused. In this respect, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0366] As the identification information of the first recording mediumin the database is generated on the basis of management information formanaging the program in the first recording medium, for example, on thebasis of TOC data, each CD as the first recording medium can becorrectly identified and the appropriate dubbing operation can berealized.

[0367] Since the recording history information stored in the database isinformation indicating whether or not each program has been recorded tothe second recording medium, whether to execute automatic dubbing ofeach program (track such as tune) can be discriminated and the dubbingoperation with no waste can be thus realized.

[0368] Moreover, if a whole program was recorded to the second recordingmedium, the content of the recording history information is updated toassume that the program has been recorded. Thus, it is possibledetermine only the data that could be completely dubbed, as having beendubbed. For example, if the user reproduced a certain tune from a CD orthe like only to a halfway part, the tune can be dubbed to the halfwaypart to the second recording medium. By assuming such data as not havingbeen dubbed, it is possible to wait for a later opportunity for dubbingand to appropriately save only the tune that could be completely dubbed,on the second recording medium.

[0369] Also, if the special reproducing status such as FF is set duringthe reproduction of the first recording medium such as a CD, completedata cannot be recorded on the side of the second recording medium. Inthat case, however, by stopping the dubbing operation and erasing thedata left in the incomplete status, it is possible to prevent theincomplete dubbed data from being left and to prevent unnecessarydubbing.

[0370] Moreover, as additional information corresponding to the firstrecording medium is recorded to the database, various uses are possible,for example, recording various information related to the firstrecording medium from which dubbing was performed and presenting thevarious information to the user.

1. A dubbing device comprising: reproducing means for carrying out reproduction from a portable first recording medium; recording/reproducing means for carrying out recording to and reproduction from a second recording medium having a larger capacity than the first recording medium; database means for managing identification information and recording history information to the second recording medium, with respect to the first recording medium from which reproduction is carried out by the reproducing means; and control means for performing control to search the database means on the basis of the identification information for the first recording medium when reproduction from the first recording medium is carried out by the reproducing means, and to cause the recording/reproducing means to record data reproduced from the first recording medium to the second recording medium in accordance with the result of the search for recording history information.
 2. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means performs control to discriminate whether or not the data reproduced from the first recording medium has already been recorded on the second recording medium on the basis of the recording history information, and to cause the reproduced data to be recorded to the second recording medium if the reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium.
 3. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of programs and management information for managing the programs are recorded on the first recording medium, and the identification information is generated on the basis of the management information.
 4. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of programs and management information of managing the programs are recorded on the first recording medium, and the recording history information indicates the presence/absence of recording of each program to the second recording medium.
 5. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control means performs control to discriminate whether or not each program reproduced from the first recording medium has already been recorded on the second recording medium on the basis of the recording history information, and to cause a program which has not been recorded on the second recording medium to be recorded to the second recording medium.
 6. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein if a whole program is recorded to the second recording medium, the content of the recording history information is updated to assume that the program has been recorded.
 7. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reproducing means can change its reproducing status from a normal reproducing status to a special reproducing status at the time of data reproduction, and when the reproduction by the reproducing means is changed to the special reproducing status, the control means stops the recording operation which is being carried out by the recording/reproducing means.
 8. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reproducing means can change its reproducing status from a normal reproducing status to a special reproducing status, and when the reproduction of a program by the reproducing means is changed to the special reproducing status, the control means stops the recording operation of the program which is being carried out by the recording/reproducing means and erases data of the program which was recorded before the stop of the recording operation.
 9. The dubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional information associated with the first recording medium is recorded in the database. 